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This research paper analyzes the challenges facing Africa's youth by examining Country Review Reports (CRRs) from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for 16 countries. It identifies a 'crisis of integration' characterized by a mismatch between education and labor market needs, high rates of youth unemployment and underemployment, and the resulting risk of social instability. While noting the potential for youth to be a 'destructive force' if marginalized, the author also highlights a strong entrepreneurial drive and a growing trend of political activism among young Africans.

This discussion brief examines the review processes of the Paris Agreement, describing it as a hybrid system that combines bottom-up nationally determined contributions (NDCs) with top-down mandatory reporting and review. The authors argue that because NDCs are not legally binding, effective review systems are the primary tools for ensuring countries meet their commitments and for increasing collective ambition to keep global warming well below 2°C.

This fact sheet, published by Friends of the Earth International in November 2015, provides a guide to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), detailing its governance, funding mechanisms, accreditation processes, and the role of various stakeholders including the private sector and civil society.

This policy note from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the challenges and progress in African fisheries governance, focusing on the tension between economic development, environmental sustainability, and social justice. It analyzes the roles of small-scale and industrial fisheries, the impact of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, and the transition toward co-management systems to address the limitations of centralized governance.

This policy brief examines how the Green Climate Fund (GCF) can achieve its objective of initiating a 'paradigm shift' towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development. It argues that such a shift requires moving from small, project-by-project approaches to programmatic ones, ensuring strong country ownership, and providing significant financial resources. The document discusses the challenges of defining 'paradigm shift' and 'transformational change', the role of performance indicators, and the need for funding conditions that incentivize higher ambition while respecting national priorities.

This report by Friends of the Earth International provides a critical analysis of forestry governance in Malaysia and the timber procurement policies of Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It argues that existing 'sustainable' and 'legal' timber frameworks are often rudimentary technical responses that fail to address systemic issues such as corruption, lack of transparency, and the violation of indigenous customary land rights in producer countries. The document highlights a significant gap between official policy and the reality on the ground, noting that importer countries often rely on the 'faith' of producer-country governance rather than independent verification.

This policy briefing examines the governance challenges facing the forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a review of logging titles between 2006 and 2010. It highlights systemic issues including corruption, institutional incapacity, and a significant gap between legal policy and practical implementation, particularly regarding the involvement of local communities.

The minutes of the 27th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on May 18, 2009, in Bogotá, Colombia, detail administrative, financial, and strategic decisions intended for submission to the Conference of the Parties (CoP). Key outcomes include the approval of the 2009-2010 operating budget, recommendations for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and proposed amendments to the EC and CoP regulations to optimize meeting schedules and costs.

This research report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines forestry governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the transition from hierarchical to network governance. It analyzes national policy, the impact of forest title conversions, and provides a detailed case study of tripartite governance structures in Bikoro Territory, Equateur Province, implemented by the IUCN.

This briefing outlines the Terms of Reference (TOR) for developing a strategic plan and priorities for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the following decade, focusing on governance, science-policy interfaces, and regional cooperation.

This research paper by John Drexhage of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that global climate governance must evolve beyond a state-centric, environment-department-led model to better integrate environmental and development policies. The author critiques the top-down target-setting of the Kyoto Protocol and proposes a more flexible, sector-based approach to mitigation that engages industry and major economies more realistically. The paper emphasizes that a successful post-2012 regime requires a strong commitment to a development agenda for the Global South, leveraging official development assistance (ODA), foreign direct investment (FDI), and synergies between adaptation and mitigation to alleviate poverty.

This report examines the governance of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), focusing on the evolution of public access to information, participation in decision-making, and the establishment of accountability mechanisms. The authors argue that while MDBs have moved toward greater transparency due to external pressure, these processes remain largely ad hoc and inconsistent, lacking a systematic framework for citizen-based rights.

This report by Friends of the Earth Europe examines seven 'High Level Groups' (HLGs) established by the European Commission's Directorate General (DG) for Enterprise and Industry under Commissioner Günter Verheugen. The analysis finds that these advisory groups are systematically biased toward industry interests, often lacking democratic legitimacy and failing to adequately represent environmental or consumer concerns in policy recommendations.

This briefing document outlines the operational principles of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) regarding scientific synthesis and decision-making. It emphasizes the need to expand the IAI's capacity to integrate scientific results for policy-making, while maintaining a non-hierarchical, flexible management structure to ensure adaptability and efficiency in interdisciplinary research.

This report from the President of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) provides an update on the committee's activities, membership status, and recommendations regarding ethical standards for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) ahead of the 27th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-27) in Brasilia.

The 'State of Global Environmental Governance 2024' report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the intersection of environmental governance and a global 'polycrisis' characterized by geopolitical instability, climate disasters, and financial crises. It highlights a trend toward 'greenlash' and the increasing role of international courts in enforcing environmental commitments, while noting that global governance remains largely siloed across the Rio Conventions and other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines corporate governance within state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Africa, drawing on African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review Reports. It argues that while SOEs are vital developmental tools, they are frequently hindered by politicised board appointments, unclear regulatory frameworks, and a lack of professionalisation. The document advocates for the separation of the state's role as owner from its role as regulator and recommends merit-based appointments to ensure SOEs operate as competitive companies rather than sources of political patronage.

This policy briefing examines the ecological importance and governance challenges of the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and Kenya. It highlights that approximately 70% of the original forest cover has been lost due to deforestation and degradation, driven largely by population growth and a heavy reliance on biomass for energy. Despite a comprehensive policy framework and significant donor funding—including REDD+ initiatives—the document argues that governance failures, lack of state funding, and poor enforcement of local by-laws have hindered conservation efforts.

This policy brief by WWF South Africa examines the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus in rural South Africa, specifically the Eastern Cape. It advocates for a transdisciplinary, bottom-up governance approach that integrates local and indigenous knowledge to address systemic inequalities and resource insecurity.